Kids and tweens will once again have the opportunity to shake it up and break it down with the return of Disney Channel’s popular dance competition “Make Your Mark: Shake It Up Dance Off.” Last year, more than 12 million viewers watched the two-night finale event, skyrocketing it to #1 among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14 for both nights. This year, kids once again will have the opportunity to compete for the Grand Prize – a performance in an episode of Disney Channel’s top-rated series “Shake It Up.”

It was bound to happen sooner or later: universes will collide when two of Disney’s largest properties, Marvel and Club Penguin join forces later this month. Details appear to be sparse at the moment, but beginning June 14, Club Penguin members will have the ability to suit up as their favorite Marvel superheroes and villains.

Marvel released the following television ad promoting the event:

In addition, Club Penguin has set up a mini site for the event at ClubPenguin.com/Marvel which shows off many of the Marvel-inspired costumes.

Club Penguin, which recently held its fifth annual ‘Coins for Change’ campaign, has doubled its charity donations to $2 Million this year as a result of players donating more than 10 billion of the in-game virtual coins.

In exchange for donating the in-game currency, Club Penguin players (predominantly children) are able to choose which of the global causes they wish to support. Kids can direct donations to provide medical help, build safe places or protect the earth. At the end of the event, the virtual donations to the three cause categories serve as votes to determine how a cash contribution from Disney Online Studios will be divided among charitable projects aimed at helping children, families and the planet.

Disney Interactive Studios today announced Club Penguin Game Day! is being developed exclusively for Wii. Scheduled for release this September, Club Penguin Game Day! will mark the franchise’s video game console debut.

Based on the snow-covered virtual world that’s captivated millions around the globe, Club Penguin Game Day! will delve into the environment, characters and storylines of the online playground of Club Penguin like never before. The game will include innovative ways to connect with ClubPenguin.com and new, interactive mini-games to challenge and engage the whole family.

Club Penguin and its millions of animated penguin inhabitants are going green. On April 22, 2010, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the popular children’s virtual world will launch a special online party and new ways for its players to exercise their passion for making the world a better place.

“Our players constantly ask for ways they can improve the virtual world of Club Penguin and the world at large, and we like to encourage that spirit of global citizenship and giving back,” says Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios. “Children today are far more environmentally aware than ever before and they truly want to make a difference. It’s important that their experiences on Club Penguin reflect and reinforce those ideals.”

Agents of the exclusive Elite Penguin Force are being called back into action. Disney Interactive Studios officially announced today the development of Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force: Herbert’s Revenge, the sequel to the 2008 top Nintendo DS™ title, Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force. This follows the initial unveiling earlier this week by Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin and executive vice president of Disney Online Studios, and Steve Wadsworth, president of Disney Interactive Media Group, during their respective keynote addresses at the Engage! Expo at Toy Fair and the D.I.C.E. Summit.

Record numbers of children donated virtual coins they earned playing games in the popular virtual world of Club Penguin this holiday to support charities working to improve the lives of kids and families around the globe.

The third annual Coins for Change campaign, conducted from December 11 to 21, 2009, allowed children who visited Club Penguin to help change the world by contributing to help kids who are sick, kids who are poor or the environment. The players’ donations served as votes to determine how a $1 million cash contribution would be divided amongst charitable projects in the real world.

KELOWNA, British Columbia — Children who visit the snow-covered virtual world of Club Penguin can put the time they spend online to better use than ever this holiday season thanks to a unique giving program that launches this week.

The third annual Coins for Change campaign, which runs from December 11-21, 2009, allows the children who visit Club Penguin to donate the virtual coins they earn playing games in the virtual world to support a cause that matters to them.

MEXICO CITY — Spanish speaking fans of Club Penguin can now waddle around, interact and play games in the popular, snow-covered virtual world in their own language.

The new Spanish version of the virtual world (www.clubpenguin.com/es) is supported by native Spanish-speaking staff that understands the unique cultural references of the audience and can provide timely and responsive moderation and player support as well as local currency payment options.

Lane Merrifield, one of Club Penguin’s co-founders and executive vice president of Disney Online, was in Mexico City to announce the launch of the virtual world in Spanish.